News filed in:

"Pharma & Healthcare"

Nov

07

0

Blue Cross changes opioid coverage, drops standard OxyContin

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama has announced new changes to its opioid policy, including a decision that the insurer will no longer cover the standard formulation of OxyContin. The news, released Tuesday, is at least the second time this year that the insurer has changed its handling of opioids. In March it set... Read More »

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama has announced new changes to its opioid policy, including a decision that the insurer will no longer cover the standard formulation of OxyContin. The news, released Tuesday, is at least the second time this year that the insurer has changed its handling of opioids. In March it set… Read More »

ZURICH, Nov 5 (Reuters) – Swiss drugmaker Novartis, which is shifting into rare diseases, said on Monday it believes its new gene therapy for the deadly disease spinal muscular atrophy could be cost-effective to healthcare systems at $4 million to $5 million per patient. “Four million dollars is a significant amount of money, but we... Read More »

ZURICH, Nov 5 (Reuters) – Swiss drugmaker Novartis, which is shifting into rare diseases, said on Monday it believes its new gene therapy for the deadly disease spinal muscular atrophy could be cost-effective to healthcare systems at $4 million to $5 million per patient. “Four million dollars is a significant amount of money, but we… Read More »

Three-drug combination improves life for cystic fibrosis patients

“Within 24 hours of taking the pill combination, patients were puffing less, their sinuses were clearer, they had more energy,” one researcher said. All newborns in the U.S. are tested for the genes that cause cystic fibrosis. There is no cure, but new medications may improve symptoms.BSIP / UIG via Getty Images A three-drug cocktail... Read More »

“Within 24 hours of taking the pill combination, patients were puffing less, their sinuses were clearer, they had more energy,” one researcher said. All newborns in the U.S. are tested for the genes that cause cystic fibrosis. There is no cure, but new medications may improve symptoms.BSIP / UIG via Getty Images A three-drug cocktail… Read More »

Local pharmacist changes state law to put high-dollar chemo drugs in the hands of low-income Tennesseans

Phil Baker is the founder and CEO of Memphis-based Good Shepherd Pharmacy. (Houston Cofield/Daily Memphian file) After three years, the last domino finally fell. Phil Baker, founder of Good Shepherd Pharmacy, took a call from The Daily Memphian while standing at the foot of the Washington Monument. “Wow,” he said. “I didn’t realize how much... Read More »

Phil Baker is the founder and CEO of Memphis-based Good Shepherd Pharmacy. (Houston Cofield/Daily Memphian file) After three years, the last domino finally fell. Phil Baker, founder of Good Shepherd Pharmacy, took a call from The Daily Memphian while standing at the foot of the Washington Monument. “Wow,” he said. “I didn’t realize how much… Read More »

Still, despite costs largely in line with the therapy’s benefits, the study’s author and another expert said reimbursement models have not kept up and need improvement. Novartis’ CAR-T therapy for acute lymphoblastic leukemia in pediatric patients appears to significantly increase survival while exerting costs to the healthcare system that are in line with its benefits,... Read More »

Still, despite costs largely in line with the therapy’s benefits, the study’s author and another expert said reimbursement models have not kept up and need improvement. Novartis’ CAR-T therapy for acute lymphoblastic leukemia in pediatric patients appears to significantly increase survival while exerting costs to the healthcare system that are in line with its benefits,… Read More »

Calif. governor vetoes dialysis reimbursement cap

In a massive win for dialysis giants DaVita and Fresenius Medical Care, California Gov. Jerry Brown on Sunday vetoed a measure that would have slashed and capped their commercial insurance reimbursements. DaVita’s and Fresenius’ stocks tumbled in late August after the California Legislature approved SB 1156, which would have capped insurer payments at 115% of... Read More »

In a massive win for dialysis giants DaVita and Fresenius Medical Care, California Gov. Jerry Brown on Sunday vetoed a measure that would have slashed and capped their commercial insurance reimbursements. DaVita’s and Fresenius’ stocks tumbled in late August after the California Legislature approved SB 1156, which would have capped insurer payments at 115% of… Read More »

Report: Pfizer battles originators over biosimilars; but new study shows first one approved is equivalent

New York-based pharmaceutical company Pfizer is alleging that other large drugmakers are trying to block access to its biosimilar products and has taken the battle online, into the courts and to regulators, according to a news report. Bloomberg reported Tuesday that Pfizer has been battling companies like Johnson & Johnson, Amgen and Roche. Pfizer sought... Read More »

New York-based pharmaceutical company Pfizer is alleging that other large drugmakers are trying to block access to its biosimilar products and has taken the battle online, into the courts and to regulators, according to a news report. Bloomberg reported Tuesday that Pfizer has been battling companies like Johnson & Johnson, Amgen and Roche. Pfizer sought… Read More »

Gilead to launch generic versions of hepatitis C drugs

Gilead Sciences said Monday it will launch generic versions of Harvoni and Epculsa, its top-selling hepatitis C drugs. Gilead will sell its chronic hepatitis C generics at a $24,000 list price for the most common course of therapy come January 2019. This represents a significant discount compared to the price for its branded alternatives, which... Read More »

Gilead Sciences said Monday it will launch generic versions of Harvoni and Epculsa, its top-selling hepatitis C drugs. Gilead will sell its chronic hepatitis C generics at a $24,000 list price for the most common course of therapy come January 2019. This represents a significant discount compared to the price for its branded alternatives, which… Read More »

Hospitals Charge 479 Percent of Cost of Drugs on Average

THURSDAY, Sept. 20, 2018 — On average, hospitals mark up drugs by 479 percent of their cost, according to a report from The Moran Company, commissioned by the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA). Researchers from The Moran Company examined hospital markups for separately paid drugs using data from the Healthcare Provider Cost Reporting... Read More »

THURSDAY, Sept. 20, 2018 — On average, hospitals mark up drugs by 479 percent of their cost, according to a report from The Moran Company, commissioned by the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA). Researchers from The Moran Company examined hospital markups for separately paid drugs using data from the Healthcare Provider Cost Reporting… Read More »

AbbVie is accused of paying kickbacks, using a stealthy network of nurses to promote Humira

Column Title In a wide-ranging scheme, AbbVie (ABBV) used a combination of old-fashioned kickbacks to doctors and a stealthy network of nurses to illegally boost prescriptions of its best-selling Humira treatment, according to a lawsuit filed on Tuesday by the California insurance commissioner. Over a five-year period, the drug maker offered physicians a familiar menu of... Read More »

Column Title In a wide-ranging scheme, AbbVie (ABBV) used a combination of old-fashioned kickbacks to doctors and a stealthy network of nurses to illegally boost prescriptions of its best-selling Humira treatment, according to a lawsuit filed on Tuesday by the California insurance commissioner. Over a five-year period, the drug maker offered physicians a familiar menu of… Read More »